Stacking and nesting containers



Dec. 10, 1963 A. H. FRATER ETAL 3,113,680

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6. 50500 F647 [1? 741% [Zr/4r [fl/aways.

INVENTORB. l/Zf/V 1564725? Dec. 10, 1963 A. H. FRATER ETAL STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 Dec. 10, 1963 A. H. FRATER ETAL 3,113,

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28. 1961 m e r United States Patent 3,113,680 STAEKING AND NESTHJG (IGNTAINERS Alien H. Frater and George Gordon Prater, Watertown, Wis, assignors to G. B. Lewis Company, a corporation Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,251 10 Claims. (Cl. 211-126) This invention relates to containers. In particular, containers which are adapted for stacking one upon the other when in use, and which can be nested one in the other when not in use.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a container which can be stacked with a variety of containers and nested with like containers.

Another object is to provide a container which can be changed from a nesting to a stacking position by a quick and simple manipulation.

Another object is to provide a container which can be molded or fashioned in one piece and adapted to be stacked and nested.

Another object is to provide a container with means to support one container in stacking position upon another container.

Another object is to provide a container which can be quickly and easily transferred from a stacking position by removing it from the means which support the stacking position.

Another object is to provide a container which can be changed from a stacking position on a lower container to a nesting position in the lower container by an essentially longitudinal movement.

Still another object is to provide a container having a slanting trough in the side wall adapted to coact with a substantially like trough in another container to effect a nesting position.

Another object is to provide a container with a slanting trough in its side wall which can coact with support means in another and substantially like container to effect a stacking position.

Another object is to provide a container which can be stacked with a like container in a horizontal position and in an angular position.

Another object is to provide a container which can be stacked with a like container in an angular position with the help of an auxiliary stand.

The foregoing objects along with other objects which will become apparent from time to time are now realized by the container of this invention which will be described in greater detail and which is illustrated in the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container;

FIGURE 2 is an elevated side view of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end view along line 44 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an end view along line 55 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of two containers in stacked position;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are side views of two containers which are optionally stacked in a horizontal position and in an angular position;

FIGURE 9 is an end view along line 99 of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of several containers showing alternate means for securing such containers in a stacking position; and

FIGURES 11-13 show modifications of the trough configuration in the side walls.

The container can be formed from a variety of materials, in particular, thermoplastic or thermosetting materials such as polyethylene, polystyrene, the phenolics, the melamines and the like are suitable because of the essentially one-piece construction of the container. The container has a slanting trough in each side wall which is formed by projecting a portion of the side wall outwards. The nesting positions of two or more containers are achieved by providing that all containers are generally alike in structure and configuration of the trough or troughs therein. The containers can be stacked on top of a lower container because the lower surfaces of the troughs rest on a support or stacking point of the lower container. The upper container is nested in a like lower container by performing a simple and quick longitudinal shift of the upper container to thereby fit the trough of the upper container into a trough of the lower container. The nesting of two or more containers is made possible because at least one wall of such a container flares slightly outwards relative to another wall.

Referring to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, the container is seen to have a generally rectangular shape wherein the coacting troughs are shown to be in opposite upright walls. The container has opposite side walls 7 adjoining a rear end wall 5. A front wall 4 completes the upright walls in the container. The front wall 4 is shown extending upwardly and outwardly and being shorter in height than the adjoining side walls 7 and the opposite rear end wall 5. Such a hopper front end wall may be used to facilitate introduction of material into the container and also removal therefrom. The dimensions and positions of the walls may be otherwise than shown. The rear wall 5 may also be shortened and flaring to provide a double hopper container. All four walls can be generally of the same height and perpendicular to the floor panel. Other variations are possible. All four walls have an upper edge provided with a continuous rim 6. The rim 6 is shown as a continuous and integral extension of the upright walls but the rim can be interrupted or can consist of a continuous wire connecting interrupted segments which are continuous and integral with the upright walls. The upright walls have lower edges 3 which are continuous with a floor panel 2.

The upper edges of the front end wall 4, the rear end Wall 5 and the adjoining side walls 7, along with the continuous rim 6, define the open end of the container.

In the side walls 7 of the container are found troughs generally designated as 10. Such troughs are outward projections in the side walls '7 and can be considered as having a projecting surface 12 on the outside of the container, a recessed surface 11 on the inside of the container, a closed end 8 and an open end 9 which can be considered as an interruption in the ledge 15 on the side walls 7. The ledge 15 is shown below the upper edge and rim 6 of the side walls 7. This ledge serves as a support for the lowermost projecting surface or closed end 8 of a trough 10 in an upper container when it is stacked upon a lower container.

The front trough located closest to the front end wall has a rise or a stop or a projection 16 immediately adjacent the open end of the front trough. This rise 16 is shown as an extension of the side wall 7 projecting above the ledge 15. The rear trough in the side wall 7 or the trough closest to the rear end wall 5 also has a rise or a stop or a projection 17 adjacent the open end of the trough.

The rises 16 and 17 in each side wall 7 abut the lower projecting surface 12 of front and rear troughs in an upper and like container, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The rises or stops or projections are shown preferably extending from a ledge or support below the upper edge and rim of the walls, but it could be otherwise. The support could be at the same level with the upper edge of the walls and the rise could extend beyond the upper edge. The projecting surface of a trough in an upper container could then interlock with the rise by abutment or by other means such as a notch or a bore in the closed end to register or key with the rise.

The recessed surface of the trough It) can be provided with a stop 13. to receive and hold the lower projecting surface or closed end 8 of a trough 10 in an upper container when such container is placed in nesting position. The front rise 16. is adapted to abut against the projecting surface 12 of a front trough in a like upper container and the rear rise 17 is adapted to abut against the rear trough in the like upper container.

One container is allowed to nest in another container because of the trough configuration and because of the relative divergence of the side walls. The slight divergence of the side walls 7 from each other is best seen in the end views of FIGURES 4 and 5. Such end views also show the relation of the projecting surface 12 of the trough 10 and the recessed surface 11 of the trough 10 to the side walls 7. While both side walls 7 are shown diverging from each other, it is only essential that there be a relative divergence between adjacent walls. Thus, only one side wall 7 could flare outward and it would diverge from the front and end walls.

One trough is therefore adapted to receive a trough of substantially like slant and configuration in a like upper container to effect a nesting position with the help of the slightly flaring or tapered side walls 7. The troughs 10 can be slanted in multiple positions, but the trough should be so slanted that it can receive a like trough with a like slant from an upper container in nesting position. One or a plurality of troughs can be provided in the side wall so long as all the troughs in any one side wall are slanted in the same general direction and all have a similar configuration. The troughs can be optionally slanted so that the lowermost projecting surface 12 is closer than the open end 9 to either the front end wall 4 or to the rear end wall 5. The stacking point of the troughs is shown as a ledge 15 for the lowermost projecting surface or closed end 8. In general, the stability of a stack will be greater when such stacking points are further apart, and it is therefore advantageous to have the front trough formed at a point proximate to the front wall, as shown in FIGURES 11-13.

A modified embodiment of the container is presented in FIGURES 7 and 8 in which the container is adapted for both horizontal and angular stacking. In this embodiment, all the structures are the same as in the previous embodiment, except the front rise 26 is spaced a short distance from the open end 9 of the front trough; also, the rear end wall which may be substantially perpendicular to the floor panel 2 has its upper edge and associated rim 6' terminating short of the upper edge and association rim 6 in the adjoining side walls 7. In horizontally stacking such containers, the front and rear troughs in the upper container abut the front rise 25 and the rear rise 17 as shown. In order to provide angular stacking of such containers, an angle stand generally shown as 20 is used to support the bottom container. The angle stand 20 has a higher upright arm 21 to support the floor panel 2 and a smaller angular arm 22 adapted to support the hopper front end wall 4 of the container. An upper container is stacked in angular position by having the lower projepting surface 12 of a front trough abut the front rise 26 55 the side closest to the rear end wall 25. The floor panel 2 of the upper containers rests on the shortened upper edge and the associated rim 6' of the lower container. The rear trough does not abut the rear rise 17 in such angular stacking position. The relation of the shortened rear wall 25 and the rim 6' to a stacked upper container is shown in FIGURE 9. It is not necessary to shorten the wall as at 6' to have angular stacking. The floor panel may have longitudinal grooves at the juncture of the side walls and the floor panel adapted to closely fit the rim on the side walls of a lower container. This would provide the lateral interlock which is desired for secure stacking. Also, the floor panel may have a transverse groove in the floor panel to closely fit the rim or upper edge of the rear wall.

A modified embodiment of the container is shown in FIGURE 10 wherein the projecting surfaces 32 of the troughs 34 are slanted and wherein the rises 36 and 37 coact by registering with a notch 35 in the closed end 33 of the trough 30. The notch 35 is shaped to closely coact with the rise 36 or the rise 37. Such rises can likewise be at the same level or above the upper edge of the side walls. The ledge or support would then be at a higher level. The container of FIGURE 10 has the closed end 33 in the front trough closer to the front wall 34 and the open end 39 of the front trough is correspondingly removed further away from the front wall 34. The front end wall 34 and the rear end wall 45 are shown to diverge slightly outwards in this embodiment to facilitate nesting of one container in the other.

The troughs in the side walls can assume various configurations and various slanting positions to accomplish the purposes of stacking and nesting. FIGURE 11 shows a front trough 40 with a projecting surface 42 extending continuously until it adjoins the front end wall 44. FIG- URE 12 shows a front trough 50 completely disposed in the side wall portion which joins the shortened front wall 5%. to the side wall 57. In this embodiment it is not necessary to have a front rise placed proximate to or adjacent the mouth of troughs positioned so close to the front end wall. A rear rise proximate or adjacent the rear trough can function to provide the appropriate stop for the rear trough if such is present. FIGURE 13 illustrates another trough 6t? with its projecting surface 62 joining the front end wall 64, and such trough is completely disposed in the side wall portion which joins the shortened front wall 64 to the side wall 67. It has been noted that such spacing of the troughs and their stacking points results in greater stacking stability of the containers.

A further example of various ways in which the spacing and configuration of the troughs may be altered is a container wherein the rear trough in the side wall extends until it adjoins the rear wall. In such an embodiment, the rear wall may rise inwardly and upwardly to conform with the slant of the rear trough as the front wall conforms with the slant of the front trough in that embodiment where the front trough adjoins the front wall. Such containers may be further provided with grooves in the floor panel to laterally interlock the containers in the stacking position as previously described. Also, a shortened rear Wall may be employed with such an embodiment.

The use and operation of my invention is as follows:

A number of containers can be stored or transported in a nesting position wherein a projecting surface of a trough fits within the recessed surface of a trough in a lower container. The trough in the upper container may be prevented from wedging too tightly in the interior recess of a trough in the lower container by having a stop in the recessed surface so that the projecting surface can rest thereon. A group of containers having one or more slanting troughs in each side wall can be nested in this manner. It is only essential that one container is just like the other container in the relative divergence of the upright walls and, in the general configuration and slanting angle of the troughs. The number of troughs in each side wall need not be the same. A container, for example, may have one trough in one side wall and a greater number of troughs in the other side wall.

When it is desired to stack containers such as those shown in FIGURE 1, the upper container is withdrawn from nesting position in the lower container by a lifting movement along the continuous rim 6 until the projecting surface 12 of the trough in the upper container is withdrawn from the open end 9 of the trough in the lower container. A short longitudinal shifting movement then places the lowermost projecting surface 12 of the trough in the upper container in abutting relationship to the front rise 16 in the ledge 15 of the lower container. The closed end of the trough rests on the ledge 15.

The containers shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 can be nested when they are stored or transported as previously described, but such containers provide alternate stacking positions. One stacking position is horizontal and the other stacking position is angular. To provide the horizontal stacking position, the upper container is again impressed with a lifting movement until the lowermost projecting surface 12 of the trough in the upper container is withdrawn from the open end 9 of the trough in the lower container. The next operation in the sequence of movements in a longitudinal shift towards the rear end wall of the lower container whereby the front trough of the upper container abuts the rise on the side closest to the front wall 4 and the rear trough abuts the rear rise on the side closest to the rear wall 5. The projecting surface 12 then rests on the ledge 15. To provide angular stacking of such containers, the lowermost container is first positioned on the upright members 21 and 22 of an angular stand 20. The upper container is withdrawn from the nesting position by a first lifting movement followed by a longitudinal shifting movement until the projecting surface 12 of the front trough abuts the front rise 26 on the side closest to the rear end wall 25. The rear trough of the upper container does not abut the rear rise 17, but the floor panel of the upper container rests on the shortened upper edge and continuous rim 6' of the rear end wall. Alternatively, the rear wall need not be shortened and grooves or equivalent means in the floor panel may be used to provide a lateral interlock of stacked containers.

The containers shown in FIGURE 10 have rises 36 and 37 adapted to coact with a closely fitting notch in the closed end 33 of the trough 30. In this embodiment, the projecting surface 32 of the trough 30 has a notch or recessed surface and the recessed surface of the trough 30 has a corresponding projecting surface. In nesting position, a trough of substantially like slant and configuration in an upper container fits in the recessed surface of a trough in the lower container and the notch or recessed surface in the projecting surface 32 or closed end 33 of the upper container closely coacts and fits on the corresponding projection present in the recessed surface of the trough in the lower container. To place the upper container in stacking position, a lifting movement is first applied to the upper container until the projecting surface 32 is withdrawn from the recessed surface in the lower container and then a longitudinal shifting movement is provided until the notch or recessed surface 25 is placed on the rise 36 or 37 located on the ledge of the lower container.

The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as given meaning by the preceding description.

We claim:

1. A stacking and nesting container comprising a generally rectangular structure having opposite end walls and adjoining opposite side walls, each wall having a lower edge continuous with a floor panel and an upper edge, at least two walls diverging relative to each other, at least one slanting trough in a side wall having an open end, a closed end, a recessed surface and a projecting surface, a like trough slanting in a substantially like manner in the opposite side wall and supporting means in the side wall to provide a stacking point for an upper container in stacking position, said projecting surface fitting in the recessed surface of a substantially like trough in a lower container in a nesting position; and said nesting position effected by a longitudinal shift of an upper container relative to a lower container.

2. A stacking and nesting container as in claim 1 further characterized in that the stacking point is below the upper edge of the side wall and is positioned so that the closed end of a trough in a like and upper container engages said point in a stacking position.

3. A stacking and nesting container as in claim 1 further characterized by and including two troughs in each side wall slanting in substantially the same manner and each trough substantially conforming in slant and configuration to a trough in the opposite side wall.

4. A container as in claim 1 further characterized by and including a support in the recessed surface of each trough to stop the closed end of a trough in an upper container in a nesting position.

5. A container as in claim 1 further characterized by and including a ledge below the upper edge of the side wall, a rise on said ledge and a notch in the closed end of a trough, whereby said notch in a trough in an upper container can register with said rise on a ledge in a lower container.

6. A stacking and nesting container having opposite end walls and adjoining opposite side walls, each wall having a lower edge continuous with a floor panel and an upper edge, two opposite walls flaring outwards, one slanting trough in each side wall proximate to one end wall, another trough in each side wall slanting in like manner, each trough having an open end, a closed end, a recessed surface and a projecting surface, a supporting ledge in each side wall below the terminating edge, a rise on said ledge behind the open end of the trough proximate to one end wall, another rise on said ledge behind the open end of the other trough in the side wall where by the closed end of a trough in a like container sits on the ledge and abuts each rise in each side wall when the containers are in stacking position, the projecting surface of a trough in a like container fitting in the recessed surface of a like trough in a lower container in a nesting position; and said nesting and stacking positions effected by a sequential lift and longitudinal shift of one container relative to the other container.

7. A stacking and nesting container comprising a generally rectangular structure having a front end wall, an opposite rear wall, and adjoining opposite side walls, each wall having a lower edge continuous with a floor panel and an upper edge, at least two opposite walls flaring outwards, the rear end wall substantially perpendicular to the floor panel, the front end wall extending upwardly and outwardly and terminating short of the adjoining side walls, a front slanting trough in each side wall adjacent the front wall, a rear trough slanting in like manner in each side wall, each trough having an open end, a closed end, a recessed surface and a projecting surface, a supporting ledge in each side wall below the upper edge, a front rise on said ledge adjacent the open end of the front trough and located on the side of the open end closest to the rear wall, a rear rise on said ledge adjacent the open end of the rear trough in each side wall and located on the side of the open end closest to the rear wall, whereby the closed end of a trough in a like upper container sits on the ledge and abuts the rises when the containers are stacked; and the projecting surface of an upper container fits in the recessed surface of a like trough in a lower container when the containers are in nesting position; and said nesting and stacking positions effected by a sequential lift and longitudinal shift of one container relative to the other container.

8. A stacking and nesting container comprising a structure having a front end wall, a rear end wall and adjoining opposite side walls, each wall having a lower edge continuous with a floor panel and an upper edge, at least two opposite walls flaring outwards, the rear end wall substantially perpendicular to the floor panel and terminating short of the upper edges of the adjoining side walls, a front end wall extending upwardly and outwardly and terminating short of the upper edges of the adjoining side walls, front slanting troughs in each side wall proximate to the front wall, rear troughs in each side wall slanting in like manner, each trough having "an open end, a closed end, a recessed surface and a projecting surface, a supporting ledge in the side wall, a front rise on said ledge spaced from the open end of the front trough on the side of the open end closest to the rear wall, a rear rise on said ledge adjacent the rear trough in the side wall on the side of the open end closest to the rear wall, whereby the closed end of a front trough in an upper and like container sits on the ledge and abuts the front rise and the rear trough of the upper container abuts the rear rise when the containers are in horizontal stacking position; whereby the closed end of a front trough in an upper container abuts the front rise and the floor panel of an upper container rests on the upper edge of the rear wall when the containers are in angular stacking position; and the projecting surface of a trough in an upper and like container fits in the recessed surface of a like trough in a lower container when the containers are in nesting position; and said nesting and stacking positions are effected by a sequential lift and longitudinal shift of one container relative to the other container.

9. A stacking and nesting container comprising a structure having a front end wall, a rear end wall and adjoining side walls, each wall having a lower edge continuous with a floor panel and an upper edge, at least two walls diverging relative to each other, a rear end wall extending upwardly and inwardly, a front end wall extending upwardly and outwardly, front slanting troughs in each side wall proximate to the front wall, a rear trough in each side wall slanting in generally like manner, the projecting surface of said rear trough continuously extending to join the rear wall, each trough having an open end, a closed end, a recessed surface and a projecting surface, a supporting ledge in the side wall, a front rise on said ledge spaced from the open end of the front trough on the side of the open end closest to the rear wall, whereby the floor panel of a similar upper container sits on the upper edge of the rear wall in a like lower container in stacking position; and the projecting surface of a trough in an upper and like container fits in the recessed surface of a like trough in a lower container when the containers are in nesting position; and said nesting and stacking positions are effected by a sequential lift and a longitudinal shift of one container relative to the other container.

10. A stacking and nesting container comprising a pair of end walls, a pair of spaced side walls, a floor panel, an upper edge around the walls, at least two walls diverging relative to each other, at least one slanting trough in a side wall, said trough having a recessed surface, a projecting surface, an open end and a closed end, at least one like trough slanting in substantially like manner in the other side wall, and a stacking point on at least one wall near the edge to hold an upper container of similar construction in stacking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,320,388 Shaw June 1, 1943 2,599,727 Schmidt June 10, 1952 3,027,045 Wilson Mar. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 

1. A STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR STRUCTURE HAVING OPPOSITE END WALLS AND ADJOINING OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, EACH HAVING A LOWER EDGE CONTINUOUS WITH A FLOOR PANEL AND AN UPPER EDGE, AT LEAST TWO WALLS DIVERGING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, AT LEAST ONE SLANTING TROUGH IN A SIDE WALL HAVING AN OPEN END, A CLOSED END, A RECESSED SURFACE AND A PROJECTING SURFACE, A LIKE TROUGH SLANTING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY LIKE MANNER IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALL AND SUPPORTING MEANS IN THE SIDE WALL TO PROVIDE A STACKING POINT FOR AN UPPER CONTAINER IN STACKING POSITION, SAID PROJECTING SURFACE FITTING IN THE RECESSED SURFACE OF A SUBSTANTIALLY LIKE TROUGH IN A LOWER CONTAINER IN A NESTING POSITION; AND SAID NESTING POSITION EFFECTED BY A LONGITUDINAL SHIFT OF AN UPPER CONTAINER RELATIVE TO A LOWER CONTAINER. 